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Name: EdnaMae

Comment: There is a danger. the thing about home loans is one that can be easily fixed, don't meet face to face with the broker. I know that's the easy way out, but, these bigots are there in banks, and find that blacks and Hispanics who want to own, won't do the leg work to know what a mortage rate is and will pay through the nose. You have to know that they are out to burn you, and you have to be ready to go tit for tat with them. And, the last point mentioned, getting black men to work. When I was a kid every balck man in the area had jobs, no matter how bad the pay or how hard the work or the insults they had to endure. These days, they won't do that, so the immigrants are all working and in or out of jail to get "thiers." Amazing how some of the young think they are going to get it without working. I blame in on that rap garbage

Name: Kofi

Comment: >Edna mae, Why are you so quick to blame the victim? Even you concede that banks are racist. It should not be the burden of the borrower to avoid banks and lenders but, for the lender to not be racist. They determine the extent of racism in banking by sending in knowledgable "customers" both black,white and Latino with similar credit scores. Time and time again black and Latinos are treated worse than whites. This had nothing to do with the jobs black men will or won't take. The people applying for loans presumably have jobs. This is an issue of differential treatment and discrimination. African Americans are deprived of capital due to racism period!!!

Name: EdnaMae

Comment: >Kofi, I am not blaming the victims. It is a well know fact that blacks are going to get a higher rate and be redlined by banks, steered to higher loans, points, etc. My point is there are resources to help you know what to do and when to fight the blatant law breakers. Just because one or two banks tell you that you need to pay 15% or higher on your home loan when the current rate is 6.5% or something like that, does not mean you have to take it. You say no, and keep trying until you find the right loan. Most major cites offer help for first time home buyers, including classes on what its all about and what your rights are when dealing with banks and lenders, since it is not a easy thing. And, the most important thing is not to use credit cards and be diligent in paying on time! I'm from the old school, need it and want it, cash or don't but it. Fincial freedom is there, and even when we all know the system is against us, you have to learn to play it to your advantage.

Name: SpelmanRho

Comment: This is a complex issue. In the past, the black middle class (any class) dealt with black banks (they had to) which gave us economic power. Now, there are very few black banks (credit uninons) and very few black folks will bank with them. Second, there were government programs that did help build the middle class across racial lines (GI Bill, Student loans), but we can see that those are currently under attack (the rate on student loans was just raised by the congress). Moreover, the demise of the industrial economy of America has further hurt the middle class with blacks being affected the most. There used to be a time where skilled laborers (even semi-skilled) could earn middle class wages through factory works. Our preference for cheap foreign goods (via Walmart and other big box stores) has virtually DESTROYED industry in America. So it is all these factors combined that have dramtically hurt the collective middle class, with blacks hurting the worse.

Name: SpelmanRho

Comment: Spellcheck: Union, worst

Name: Teigh

Comment: SpelmanRho> I co-sign completely. The emrgence of Walmart is NOT a good thing, I saw a frontline special which detailed how they drove Rubbermaid out of business and then had their Chinese company reps come to Rubbermaid firesale to buy the equipment to ship to Japan to make their own goods. This cheap mentality is hurting the Black Middle Class and trust and believe the powers that be know it. I would say to Kofi that come on -- you have to admit their are some brothas that just won't work and that is not about blaming the victim. If Black men who were slaves and sharecropped made a way then "splain" this "Blame the man, blame the black woman" mentality that SOME not all of our men have today?

Name: Kofi

Comment: Of course there are some black men who cannot or will not work. My point is the article was not about the work ethic of black men or women. This article was about discrimination against black people and the subsequent threats to the black middle class. Instead of addressing the issue of racism someone invariably points out what black people should or should not be doing. Why don't these same people hold white people to the same level of accountability? The discussion thus far has been about what black people should do but nothing about holding white people the perpetrators accountabble.

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